Ludovico Chigi Albani della Rovere
Encyclopedia
Fra' Ludovico Chigi Albani della Rovere (10 July 1866 - 14 November 1951) was the 76th Prince
and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta from 1931 to 1951.
Chigi was born in Ariccia
, the son of Prince Mario Chigi della Rovere Albani, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, and of his wife, Princess Antoinette zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn. His father's family the Chigi-Albani
was among the most prominent princely families of Rome.
On 5 June 1893, in Rome
, Chigi married Donna Anna Aldobrandini, daughter of Pietro, Prince Aldobrandini, Prince of Sarsina, and of his wife, Françoise Charlotte Victorine Marie de La Rochefoucauld. They had two children:
Chigi's wife died 17 September 1898.
On 4 November 1914, Chigi's father died and he succeeded as Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, 8th Prince of Farnese and Campagnano, 4th Prince of Soriano, 8th Duke of Ariccia and of Formello, Marquess of Magliano Pecorareccio, Hereditary Marshall of the Holy Roman Church and Guardian of the Conclave. Chigi was responsible for three papal conclave
s. He was an honorary member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences
.
On 30 May 1931, Chigi was elected Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Under his leadership the order engaged in large-scale hospitaller and charitable activities during World War II
. In 1947 he was appointed president of an international committee to oversee the rebuilding of the Abbey of Monte Cassino
.
Chigi died in Rome of a heart attack at the age of 85.
Prince of the Church
The term Prince of the Church is nowadays used nearly exclusively for Catholic Cardinals. However the term is historically more important as a generic term for clergymen whose offices hold the secular rank and privilege of a prince or are considered its equivalent...
and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta from 1931 to 1951.
Chigi was born in Ariccia
Ariccia
Ariccia is a town and comune in the Province of Rome, central Italy. It is in the Alban Hills of the Lazio region and could be considered an extension of Rome's southeastern suburbs...
, the son of Prince Mario Chigi della Rovere Albani, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, and of his wife, Princess Antoinette zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn. His father's family the Chigi-Albani
Chigi-Albani
frame|Portrait of the later Agostino Chigi, nephew of Alexander VII.Chigi is a Roman princely family of Sienese extraction descended from the counts of Ardenghesca, which possessed castles in the Maremma, southern Tuscany...
was among the most prominent princely families of Rome.
On 5 June 1893, in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Chigi married Donna Anna Aldobrandini, daughter of Pietro, Prince Aldobrandini, Prince of Sarsina, and of his wife, Françoise Charlotte Victorine Marie de La Rochefoucauld. They had two children:
- Prince Sigismondo Chigi della Rovere Albani, 9th Prince of the Holy Roman Empire (12 December 1894 - 24 December 1982)
- Princesse Laura Maria Caterina Chigi della Rovere (30 April 1898 - 4 November 1984)
Chigi's wife died 17 September 1898.
On 4 November 1914, Chigi's father died and he succeeded as Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, 8th Prince of Farnese and Campagnano, 4th Prince of Soriano, 8th Duke of Ariccia and of Formello, Marquess of Magliano Pecorareccio, Hereditary Marshall of the Holy Roman Church and Guardian of the Conclave. Chigi was responsible for three papal conclave
Papal conclave
A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...
s. He was an honorary member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences
Pontifical Academy of Sciences
The Pontifical Academy of Sciences is a scientific academy of the Vatican, founded in 1936 by Pope Pius XI. It is placed under the protection of the reigning Supreme Pontiff. Its aim is to promote the progress of the mathematical, physical and natural sciences and the study of related...
.
On 30 May 1931, Chigi was elected Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Under his leadership the order engaged in large-scale hospitaller and charitable activities during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1947 he was appointed president of an international committee to oversee the rebuilding of the Abbey of Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino is a rocky hill about southeast of Rome, Italy, c. to the west of the town of Cassino and altitude. St. Benedict of Nursia established his first monastery, the source of the Benedictine Order, here around 529. It was the site of Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944...
.
Chigi died in Rome of a heart attack at the age of 85.